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Kravitz: Pacers beat Hawks at their own game

By Bob Kravitz, bob.kravitz@indystar.com
6:06 a.m. MDT May 2, 2014

The Indiana Pacers' David West takes it to the basket against Atlanta Hawks defender Jeff Teague during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinal at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. The Pacers beat the Hawks, 95-88.(Photo: Curtis Compton MCT)

ATLANTA -- Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel had a lot of messages for his players before Game 6, and this was one of them:

"Teams that are tested like this in the first round usually go very deep in the playoffs,'' he told his team.

We'll just see about that. For now, though, it's about surviving and ultimately advancing against the Atlanta Hawks, who give them fits and force them to change personnel and personality. It happened in 2000, when the Pacers were taken in the first round to a decisive fifth game by the Milwaukee Bucks. (They ended up in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers that year.) And it's going to happen again Saturday after the Pacers pulled out a 95-88 Game 6 victory at Philips Arena.

Game 7.

Bankers Life transformed into Bonkers Life.

Bring your lungs.

The Pacers' season is still barely alive, and it's alive for a lot of the same reasons they won Game 4 in this building.

Once again, they made just enough big-boy plays to pull out a taut game that came down to the final 2 minutes.

Once again, there was David West, making all the huge baskets down the stretch. "He's our rock,'' Vogel said.

Once again, there was George Hill making two big baskets down the stretch.

Once again, there was Paul George, who is having a strong series, getting a monster steal and then hitting his free throws.

And don't dismiss the role played by Ian Mahinmi, who had a huge offensive rebound that led to a Pacers basket, and played strong defense against Paul Millsap down the stretch.

Exhale.

And cue the nervous laughter.

Atlanta can't win three games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse … can they?

Indiana Pacers forward David West reacts as he leaves the court after Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. Indiana won 95-88. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (Photo: John Bazemore AP)

May 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; General view in the first quarter of the game of Atlanta Hawks against the Indiana Pacers in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Jason Getz Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports)

May 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Indiana Pacers center Ian Mahinmi (28) grabs a rebound in the second quarter against the in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Jason Getz Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports)

May 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel instructs his players against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Jason Getz Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports)

May 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) argues a call next to forward Paul George (24) in the second quarter of their game against the Atlanta Hawks of game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Jason Getz Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports)

Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap, bottom, and Indiana Pacers forward David West, top, battle for a loose ball in the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (Photo: John Bazemore AP)

Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) is fouled by Atlanta Hawks forward Elton Brand while driving in the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (Photo: John Bazemore AP)

Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) shoots as Atlanta Hawks forward Elton Brand (42) defends in the first half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (Photo: John Bazemore AP)

Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) celebrates during a timeout late in the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. Indiana won 95-88. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (Photo: John Bazemore AP)

The Indiana Pacers' Paul George, left, gets called for an offensive foul while driving against Atlatna Hawks defender DeMarre Carroll in the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT) (Photo: Curtis Compton MCT)

The Indiana Pacers' George Hill (3) tries to pass off to teammate Roy Hibbert, left, while under pressure from the Atlanta Hawks' Pero Antic in the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT) (Photo: Curtis Compton MCT)

The Atlanta Hawks' Elton Brand, right, fouls the Indiana Pacers' George Hill, as he drives during the first half of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT) (Photo: Curtis Compton MCT)

Atlanta Hawks' Elton Brand, left, and Jeff Teague react to turning the ball over to the Indiana Pacers on a bad pass in the first half against the Indiana Pacers during Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Thursday, May 1, 2014. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT) (Photo: Curtis Compton MCT)

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"Our guys could have wilted,'' Vogel said, referring to a third-quarter stretch when George got his fourth foul and the Hawks went on a run, including a thunderous Mike Scott dunk over Mahinmi. "They toughed it out. They regained control of the game.''

For days now, everybody on the Pacers roster who is under 7 feet tall has begged for one thing: A smaller lineup. On the record. Off the record.

A lineup featuring the forgotten Chris Copeland. And West in the post. And C.J. Watson in the same backcourt with Hill. And even Rasual Butler (OK, nobody was screaming for Rasual Butler).

George made it abundantly clear when he spoke before this game: "We're in Game 6; it's time to switch things up and play a little smaller. The way they (the Hawks) play, they understand that they're small, they're going to double and trap and pressure up because we're playing big. So to negate that we've got to play small and play their way.''

When the night began, Vogel remained steadfast, starting the miscast Roy Hibbert at center. But soon, the Pacers had fallen behind 15-5, the Hawks running down every long miss and crushing the taller Pacers on the boards.

Bob Kravitz and Candace Buckner break down the Indiana Pacers' 95-88 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6.
IndyStar.com

And then Vogel relented.

He brought in Copeland. He brought in Watson. He down-sized across the board. And he didn't play either Luis Scola or Evan Turner, which was eye-opening.

The offensive spacing was better. The shot selection was improved. The defensive closeouts on 3-point shooters were quicker; the Hawks were just 9-of-35 from 3 Thursday night. And the Pacers, who couldn't corral a 50-50 ball in the early minutes — and through most of this series — began finishing defensive stops with rebounds.

This is so simple, even an altitude-challenged journalist can figure it out: The only way the Pacers can stay with and ultimately beat the Hawks is by beating them at their own Biddy Ball game.

Vogel even benched Hibbert to start the second half, opting to play Ian Mahinmi.

Sure, it's anathema to everything Vogel believes, runs counter to his desire to beat on smaller opponents with size and physicality. For a year, a couple of years, really, the Indiana Pacers have played one way: They've played big, doubling up in the post with Hibbert and West, packed the paint offensively and defensively. And it's worked; they took the Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals last year and finished with the NBA's second-best regular-season record this year

But the "do what we do'' stuff hasn't worked all series and it won't work, not even in Game 7.

Vogel needs to remain small in Game 7. That should be abundantly clear by now, even if he starts Hibbert and plays him for a few short minutes.

"(Going small) is not something that philosophically I'm really against as a coach,'' he said. "It's just how our team is built and we've had success with it. You can have success with small lineups but there's a risk because you have to change some things with how you play, particularly on the defensive end. You've got to get in a lot more rotations; that's takes work and it's difficult to do on the fly. But it's something we're trying to do.''

If and when the Pacers finally put away the Hawks in Game 7 back home, the overwhelming sense will be this: "Good riddance, Hawks. Good riddance, small ball. Bring on the big boys.''

Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star. Call him at (317) 444-6643 or email bob.kravitz@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BKravitz.